Just in time for the summer holidays, Google have launched Google Maps Navigation in 11 more countries, giving you access to voice navigation directions on your mobile device.
And at the same time, Google have added further Search by Voice functionality to their Android handsets, allowing you to try out your language skills on the move, too.
Firstly, Google Maps. The 11 additional countries included are Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland. Google Maps with Navigation is already available in the US and the UK, offering a free way to turn your device into a suitable, portable GPS SatNav unit. Whilst this is good news for travellers, we highly recommend that you invest in a local SIM card whilst abroad, to avoid being penalised with high data charges whilst roaming. To use another SIM card you will need to make sure your handset is unlocked, if not you can get it unlocked via your network customer services department.
Google Maps, as well as giving you details of the route to your desired destination, can also be used to find areas of local interest, as well as locating the nearest restaurant, hotel, cash machine, petrol station, and so on, to your current location. When a route has been calculated, it is downloaded and cached into the handset, so if you happen to pass through an area where network coverage isn't so hot, you can still follow the route laid out for you, as long as you don't deviate too far off course.
One of the great features of the Google Maps app is the ability to speak your request into the handset instead of typing it in. Google have added additional languages to their Search by Voice function, which now includes French, German, Italian and Spanish. Very helpful if you know how to say the place you are looking for, but not spell it, although you will need to be good with your pronunciation to get the service to work properly.
The updates for Google Maps can be found in the Android Market, if you haven't automatically updated the app, and it is set to work on all Android devices running Android OS 1.6 or higher. If you already have Google Search by Voice installed on your device, then it will start to automatically recognise the new language search terms, as long as those languages are chosen in the 'language and keyboard' settings on your Android device. If you haven't yet installed this app, you will find it by searching for 'voice search' in the Android Market. Voice search is also available for iPhone and BlackBerry users, simply download the Google Mobile App to your device, and select the new languages from the control panel.